California guest allegedly wakes up to hotel room covered in ants. Then the hotel staff provides an answer: ‘They’re just looking for water’

A guest staying at The Anza Hotel in Calabasas, California, alleges they woke up surrounded by ants, including one they claim was in their ear. They brought the alleged infestation to hotel staff. But they said that the explanation left them even more confused: The ants were “just looking for water.”

The TikTok creator Wardrobewinter (@wardrodewinter) shared the allegations in a video viewed nearly 3 million times as of publication. The creator described waking up to what they characterized as an ant problem throughout the room. “I woke up, and I was surrounded by ants in my ear, in my, not mouth, but around me, around the bed,” they said.

They said they looked toward the side of the room and saw ants crawling along the edge near the wall. The video also showed ants moving across the floor.

They said they tried contacting the hotel’s corporate office.

In the post, Wardrobewinter claimed they called Best Western’s corporate office, but said the call ended abruptly. They also went to the front desk with their mother on the phone because they said they were close to vomiting. They later said the hotel moved them to another room, which they described as a suite.

According to the creator’s account, hotel staff entered the old room before moving them and repeatedly asked what kind of bugs they had found. They argued that the issue was not what type of insects they were, but that insects were in the hotel room at all.

Winter Wardrobe’s post includes audio of a voice they identifies as hotel staff. “They are ants,” the voice says in the clip, “They’re just looking for water.” The creator then questioned why the insects’ apparent search for water should matter. “No, I’m confused,” they said. “Cause bugs not supposed to be in no room either way.”

They continued to challenge the explanation, saying it appeared to minimize the presence of insects around their sleeping area. “Anyway, you’re justifying that I should be sleeping with bugs, especially at a hotel room, is bizarre. Crazy,” they said. They ultimately said they had packed their belongings and planned to leave.

“I’m just making aware: don’t,” they told viewers, urging people not to stay at the property and suggesting that people with reservations consider canceling. Ants do show up in unexpected places. A Georgia bride recently reported an ant infestation in her wedding dress.

The Anza’s official website describes the property as a boutique hotel in Calabasas with guest rooms and suites, a heated outdoor pool, fitness center, and on-site dining. The creator’s account does not establish why ants allegedly appeared in the room. As of publication, Best Western and the Anza have not commented on the situation.